US, Norway Allocate $30Mln to Clear Iraq, Syria of Daesh's Mines

Washington and Oslo decided to allocate nearly $30 million to help defuse explosives planted by Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States and Norway have launched a demining initiative to clear parts of Iraq and Syria from explosives planted by Daesh terrorists, the US Department of State said in a press release on Wednesday.

"Under this new initiative, the United States intends to provide an additional $10.8 million this year to clear portions of Iraq liberated from ISIL [Daesh] occupation and spend up to $8 million next year to do the same in liberated portions of Syria," the release stated.

Norway will allocate an additional $9.8 million for mine action in 2016, with a particular focus on aiding Iraq and Syria. In addition, Oslo intends to increase its financial support for global demining by $15 million in 2017, according to the release.

The State Department added that the United States and Norway will host a ministerial-level demining conference this fall during the UN General Assembly.

Daesh is a terrorist group outlawed in the United States, Russia and numerous other countries. The infamous group has seized large areas in Syria and Iraq and declared a caliphate on territories under its control.